105.012

Produced 1963 to 1966

All asymmetric cases, with distinctive shorter pushers. Some are screw in and some are drive in. It is not uncommon to see these changed for the wrong specification, and even screw pushers forced into cases designed for press-fitting.

Dials come in all SWISS variations and are all marked “Professional”. I have been presented with examples with a non professional dial, but for the moment I am assuming them to be unoriginal.

All are fitted with baton hands, and spear chrono hand.

This is the first reference to have the word professional on the dial, and the first asymmetric case, and this is the only confirmed reference to land on the moon:

Its not his watch….but it was his box!

This reference has such a wide variety of specifications, there are collectors who concentrate only on this reference with good reason.

This reference is unusual in that for the -66 there were two manufacturers for the case. See below in the -66 section.

105.012-63

105.012-63. This early reference is very rare and desirable. Note the SWISS marking at the lower dial. The shorter pushers are clearly noticeable from this angle. Nice grey bezel. As an aside, I bought this on ebay, advertised as a “1970’s Omega” with fuzzy photos, so I bought this as a 1970’s calbre 861, and found I had got the rarest asymmetric calibre 321. Very lucky.

The -63 also caries the “symmetrical” clutch bridge, where as subsequent 105.012’s have the asymmetrical bridge that all later 321s carry.

Note as of September 2017: I have now seen a few 105.012-63 with an asymmetric bridge. I think I have to accept that either is correct. From a collectors point of view, the symmetric bridge is more interesting, but I would doubt it would affect the value.

Calibre 321

Serial Range:

2052 0xxx – 2052 1xxx

Dial

Stepped

Applied metal logo

Professional text

Usually SWISS MADE – possibly with close spaced T’s

Case

Asymmetric case, 20 mm lugs

Case back- double step with Speedmaster engraved on rear

Hands

Hour/minute – baton

Subdial – Stick, painted

Chrono – spear

Pushers

5mm x 3 mm

Crown

7mm

Bezel

Black BASE 500 bezel with dot over 90 (DO90)

105.012-64

Very rare. The Ts are seen for the first time.

105.012-64 This example has a blueish bezel

Calibre 321

Serial Range:

2052 7xxx – 2282 5xxx

Dial

Stepped

applied metal logo

Professional text

Close spaced SWISS MADE T’s, or wide space T’s

Case

Asymmetric case, 20 mm lugs

Caseback- double step with speedmaster engraved on rear

Hands

Hour/minute – baton

Subdial – Stick, painted

Chrono – spear

Pushers

5mm x 3mm

Crown

7mm

Bezel

Black BASE 500 bezel with dot over 90 (DO90)

105.012-65

105.012-65 with tropical dial. This one came from South America, and while the dial is not actually chocolate, it has acquired a pleasing patina – Just not as valuable as the galaxy-brown. Note the way the hands go with the dial. It is serviced, as can be seen by the new pusher tubes.

Calibre 321

Serial Range:

2282 5xxx – 2452 7xxx

Dial

Stepped

applied metal logo

Professional text

Close spaced SWISS MADE T’s, or wide T’s

Case

Asymmetric case, 20 mm lugs

Case back- double step with Speedmaster engraved on rear

Hands

Hour/minute – baton

Subdial – Stick, painted

Chrono – spear

Pushers

5mm x 3mm

Crown

7mm

Bezel

Black BASE 500 bezel with dot over 90 (DO90)

105.012-66

105.012-66’s. On the left is the Huguenin Freres nad then the Centrale Boites on the right. Note the differences in the lug shape

This particular sub reference has two case manufacturers. Huguenin Freres who also made the cases for the previous references, and Centrale Boites. The CB cases differ in that there is a small line between the polishing planes on the lugs. All the case backs have a single step.

Double step -65 case back on left, and single step -66 case back on right.Marked by the manufacturers, HF for Huguenin Freres and CB for Centrale BoitesLine drawn to highlight the polishing junction, known in collecting circles as a “Facet ” Actually it is more accurately a facet edge.

Here finally a picture without the line to show what you will see:

105.012-66 case showing the facet junction

Here again are the two different case types for comparison, first the HF case:

105.012-66HF. Note the lack of any facet lines on the lugs. The Telemetre bezel is probably later than the watch – its very hard to confirm. Photo courtesy Gemini4

Here is the CB case, with the facet lines clear:

105.012-66CB. With strong facet lines. This example has a top bezel, and is in very good condition all round with original pushers. Phot courtesy Gemini4